Whelan’s jig

Source: There are many recordings of this tune, I don’t remember where this version came from.
Transcription: Gian Marco Pietrasanta.

This is a version I learned a couple of years ago from the legendary accordeonist Mairtin O’Connor. I like this tune a lot, perhaps because of it’s simple beaty and power.
|E2BBAF|FEBAFB|E2BBAB|dAFFED|E2BBAF|FEBAFA|BCBBAB|dAFFED:||
|E2eede|fede2d|BABg2E|fdBAFA|B2eede|fede2f|gbgfaf|1 edBAFA:|edBAFB||

A band called Wild Asparagus from Mass, USA plays a really nice set with the Mooncoin Jig into Whelans. The change is really nice and I love the mooncoin!

I heard this tune played by Aileach in a set called Jigs of Aileach 2 on a compilation album. It is a great set. Does anyone know the names of the other tunes in the set or any information on Aileach?

I tend to think of Paddy Carty’s album when I hear this. Beautiful.

could somebody please post the version of the rookery that is played on the new Franky Gavin , Sharon Shannon, mcgoldrick and murray c.d “tunes”
thanks

He was a flute player and a member of the Ballinakill Traditional Dance Players, from East Galway. He is mentioned in a biography of Lucy Farr (http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/farr.htm) and an interview with Mike Rafferty (http://www.firescribble.net/flute/rafferty3.htm) No idea how he sounded like, but Sean Moloney, a grandson of Stephen Moloney, who was another flute player of the band, remarked “He [Tommy Whelan] was a big influence on the flute playing style of that area including my father” (sleeve notes of Sean’s recording “Potsticks”) Thankfully, you can listen to Eddie Moloney play a few tunes on Rich Lafferty’s Flute Tape Page: http://www.lafferty.ca/music/irish/flute-geezers As you see, Eddie’s style is pretty much like Mike Rafferty’s.

I would like to find out something about this tune but couldn’t find it in this database. Does anyone know anything about this tune? It was curiously easily for me to learn so I guess it really spoke to me. Thanks, janmarie

You don’t mean Whelan’s by any chance?
https://thesession.org/tunes/1447

Yes, that was exactly what I should have meant. Thanks!

X: 2
T: Whelan’s
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Edor
|: E2 B BAF | FEB AFB | E2 B BAB | dAF FED |
E2 B BAF | FEB AFA | BCB BAB | dAF FED :|
|: E2 e ede | fed e2 d | BAB g2 E | fdB AFA |
B2 e ede | fed e2 f | gbg faf |[1 edB AFA :|[2 edB AFB |]

# Posted on February 18th 2003 by matti

“Tutor for the Feadóg Stáin”
Micheál Ó hAlmhain & Séamus MacMathúna
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 1971
Page 22: “Port Uí Fhaoláin” / “Whelan’s Jig”

X: 3
T: Whelan’s
S: “Tutor for the Feadóg Stáin”, Micheál Ó hAlmhain & Séamus MacMathúna, page 22
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Edor
|: ~E3 BAF | FEB AFD | ~E3 BAF | dAF FED |
~E3 BAF | FEB AFA | BdB BAF | dAF FED :|
|: B3 ~e3 | fed ~e3 | BAB g3 | fdB AFA |
B3 ~e3 | fed e2 f | gbg faf | edB AFD :|

X: 4
T: Whelan’s
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Edor
|: E3 B^AB | EBG AFD | E^DE B2 c | dcB AFD |
E3 B3 | GBG A3 | B/c/dB BAF | dAF FED :|
|: B^AB e3 | fed e3 | B^AB g2 e | fdB AF/G/A |
B3 e3 | fed e2 f | g2 b f/g/af |[1 edB AF/G/A :|[2 edB AFD |]

And ending it on ~ | E6 |]

Submitted on May 1st 2004 by gian marco.
https://thesession.org/tunes/2927

plays Whelan’s on the flute…
http://ceolalainn.blogspot.de/2011/07/joe-heaney-gabriel-osullivan-joe-gabe.html

He doesn’t plays those e-rolls in the A part in a specific 8ve, so I’ve just transcribed it as played on his first take.

Edit: I just realised that this setting is almost identical to the one initially posted by Gian. D’oh!

Piping version

easy to confuse with Morrisons - or is it just me?

Yes

I agree with Christy Taylor in that this jig is similar to Morrison’s.

Similar, but different. They feel different. Morrison’s is more of a fast rocking tune, while this feels to me more lyrical and subtle. Both very nice.

The version I first heard (and the one I still mentally refer to) was on Barde’s first album. Had a curious march-like feel to it in their version. Probably the whistle-bodhran pairing the first time through.

I’m another who feels it’s really similar to Morrison’s. If I’m listening to a video where there are no tune titles, it takes me a little time to think which one it is!

I can see why it is similar but I never made the connection before. Maybe because I’m used to play it in Bdorian.

Also, I feel like Morrison’s is more |Tatata Tatata|Tatata Tatata|Tatata Tatata|Tatata Tatata|
when Whelan’s is something like |Tatata tatata|tatata tatata|Tatata tatata|tatata tatata|

“…like Morrison’s…”

I have what a friend called “sideman syndrome,” I remember tunes but not most tune names, never mind lyrics. I did learn the name of the tune, Morrison’s Jig, but for years I only knew Whelan’s as “Not Morrison’s.”

I learned this before I came across Morrison’s, so haven’t had that confusion and always preferred Whelan’s - probably because it’s less often heard. There’s a very nice version on ‘There was a maid’ by Dolores Keane & Reel Union [Claddagh 4CC23 1978] with herself on flute.